Title and top-four aspirants Arsenal and Spurs meet with both looking real deal

Ahead of Sunday's north London derby, Greg Lea examines two teams that enter the tie in fine form and on course to for their season's objectives.

After an inconsistent first two seasons at Arsenal, Mesut Ozil, centre, has emerged as the Premier League's leading play-maker this season. Dylan Martinez / Reuters

Greg Lea

There is an air of optimism around North London at present and, unlike on many previous occasions, the positive feeling extends across both sides of the area’s football divide.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with both clubs having plenty to be pleased about in their Premier League seasons so far — even if those of a red persuasion may still be reeling from Wednesday's 5-1 Uefa Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich.

Arsenal’s start has given their supporters hope that a sustained tilt at the title could be on the cards.

Arsene Wenger’s men, since losing to West Ham United on the first day of the season Arsenal, have impressed domestically, and deserve to be level with Manchester City at the top of the table after 11 games.

Alexis Sanchez is the sort of world-class difference-maker that Arsenal have missed since the days of Robin van Persie, while Mesut Ozil — previously a more peripheral participant — has come to the fore and demonstrated a decisiveness that makes him the division’s most in-form playmaker.

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While Arsenal have always been praised for their considerable attacking potential, it is arguably their defensive solidity that makes them title challengers this term, with only eight goals conceded so far, the arrival of goalkeeper Petr Cech in the summer clearly helping tighten things up.

Tottenham therefore face a tough proposition at the Emirates this weekend, but will travel to the home of their neighbours full of confidence after their own recent results.

Mauricio Pochettino’s charges have been defeated just once in the league all season and find themselves only five points off the summit.

Tottenham’s success has also been built on a similarly stubborn defence, with four clean sheets recorded and just nine goals conceded in their opening 11 matches.

Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld have formed a strong partnership at the heart of the backline, with Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Moussa Dembele all impressing in the midfield roles in front.

Harry Kane looks to have rediscovered his scoring touch with four goals in his past two league games, while Christian Eriksen continues to contribute with both goals and assists.

Sunday’s encounter is therefore a meeting of two sides in fine domestic form, something that has not always been in the case ahead of games between the duo in the recent years.

Tottenham went into this fixture last September in need of a positive performance following a run of poor results, while in 2013 it was Arsenal who were under pressure to deliver a victory and quell fan pressure after a shock loss to Aston Villa on the first day of the season.

For a few years, both sides were in direction competition with one another for the final Uefa Champions League spot, so it was natural that there were few occasions when the two teams were both on course to meet their objectives going into a north London derby.

This time around, however, both Arsenal and Tottenham are in a positive state as the former attempt to win the league and the latter eye a top-four finish.

There is a still long way to go until such matters are decided, but Sunday is an excellent chance for the pair to stake their respective claims against their biggest rivals.

Allardyce faces uphill task

If the scale of the task facing Sam Allardyce was unclear to the 61-year-old before his installation as Sunderland manager, last weekend’s 6-2 thrashing at Everton would have acted as the perfect reality check.

Sunderland started strongly at Goodison Park, striking the post twice before giving up the game’s first goal for the eighth time in 11 matches this season.

Steven Fletcher put the visitors back on level terms at 2-2 early in the second period, but they completely collapsed after Everton retook the lead and made things far too easy for a side who had scored just five times in their previous five games.

Allardyce, widely seen as a safe pair of hands, was an eminently sensible appointment given the rather bleak situation Sunderland found themselves in after collecting only three points from the first 24 on offer.

Even with a coach of the former West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers boss’ experience at the helm, however, Sunderland face an uphill battle to retain their Premier League status this term.

The squad that has been assembled at the Stadium Of Light is lacking in quality, with the defensive options available to Allardyce a particular concern for a manager who prides himself on clean sheets and building from the back.

There is also a wider malaise that has engulfed the club for many years and shows no sign of lifting any time soon.

Sunderland have finished the last three campaigns in 16th, 14th, and 17th, flirting with relegation on each occasion despite multiple managerial changes and considerable investment in the playing staff.

Allardyce’s track record proves he is the right man for the job, but the worry for Sunderland fans is that the damage may have already been done.

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